Long live the heart
Long live the soul
That knows what it wants

prompt from anon: multi chapter fic AU where Stefan & Caroline's roles are reversed in the beginning of the series & Caroline is the new kid at mystic falls instead of Stefan & every characters roles are reversed but it's still a steroline story

a/n: this is my interpretation of the prompt. I decided to finally start it.

Stefan leaned against his locker watching Elena and Bonnie across the hall. Elena was complaining about Jeremy and Bonnie was doing her good friend duty in listening.

It was the first day of school after a long summer. Stefan's parents had died, he'd broken up with Elena and shut down completely. His parents died while he lived. He felt so disgusted with himself for so long.

He wanted to talk to Elena. Be friends again. But, he knew that's not what she wanted. She wanted more. She wanted what they were before. And that just wasn't what they were anymore. It just wasn't possible.

Matt and Tyler walked up behind him. Tyler leaned against the locker next to him and Matt pushed on his shoulder. "You're staring."

"I just... do you think she's okay?" Stefan said.

Tyler laughed. "You're the one with the dead parents, dude. She's fine." Matt shot Tyler and look and Tyler rolled his eyes.

"Listen," Matt started. "She just needs some time. You guys will be friends again. Though, I don't know why you care so much."

"We've been friends since we were in diapers. All of us have," Stefan pointed out.

Tyler shrugged. "Fuck her."

"Dude!" Matt said, with a shocked expression on his face.

"I'm serious, Matt. If she's going to be a little bitch about it, who needs her?" Tyler rolled his tongue over his teeth. "I need to get to class. You guys coming or what?"

Matt pointed down the hall. "Still got to hit my locker."

Stefan nodded. "I'll walk with you. I have to stop by the office."

Out of the corner of his eye, Stefan noticed Elena looking his way. He turned and gave her a soft smile and slight wave. She gave a light nod and turned away.

Matt and Stefan parted ways at the office and Stefan walked up behind a blonde who was talking to the woman behind the desk.

"Listen, my mom is the new sheriff," the girl said, her voice fierce. She struck Stefan as the kind of girl who knew what she wanted. And knew how to get it.

"I don't have all your paperwork, though. I don't doubt that-"

The girl cut her off. "Look again," she said seriously. "I'm sure you have everything you need."

The receptionist, a bit dazed, looked down at the folder in front of her. "I'm sorry, you're right."

Stefan tilted his head. Well, that was interesting. he thought. The receptionist handed the girl a paper. Presumably her schedule and she turned around quickly. Her blonde curls sway as she spun toward him.

Their eyes met, her blue eyes piercing his immediately. She was gorgeous. She seemed a bit startled by his presence. "Hi," she said with a smile. "Are you new, too?"

"Uh," Stefan stuttered a bit, stuggling to find his words. "I, um, well..."

The girl giggled at his bashful ways. "Yes?"

"Stefan," the receptionist said. "You here for your schedule adjustment?"

Stefan nodded and walked to the counter. "Yes!" he said. "Sorry," he turned back to the blond. "I've lived here forever. I'm just trying to get out of a couple classes. I set my schedule last year when my girlfriend and I were still together and-"

"And you don't want to spend every waking minute with her anymore?" the girl asked, knowingly. "I get it." She put her hand out to him. "Caroline. Caroline Forbes."

Stefan took her hand. "Stefan Salvatore," he introduced. "I actually met your mom at the beginning of summer."

"Salvatore," Caroline said, her voice soft and knowing. "Why do I-" she met his eyes as if remembering. "I am so sorry about your parents."

Stefan cleared his throat and gave her a slight nod. "Thank you."

The bell rang, breaking Caroline and Stefan from their short conversation. "I need to get to class. Maybe we'll have a couple classes together."

Stefan nodded and smiled at her. She left the office and Stefan watched her walk away. She was wearing his favorite color. And it was a piercing blue, the color of the ocean. The color of the lake that Stefan and his parents crashed into.

He cleared his throat and turned back to the receptionist. She was typing a few things into her computer, still working on his schedule.

"I wouldn't mind being in her History class," Stefan said before shooting the receptionist his award winning smile.

"I'll see what I can do."

Stefan tapped his pencil to his notebook idly as he watched the door. Tyler and Matt walked in the room, laughing about something. Matt nodded at Stefan as they walked in.

Stefan kept his eye on the door, as he had in every other class period all day. He wanted to see Caroline again. There was something about her... something that stuck.

When she finally did walk through the door, Stefan couldn't hide the grin on his face. He raised his eyebrow as he watched her turn to someone that was behind her and start to talk. Stefan's stomach sunk as he saw it was Elena.

Small town, smaller school. But, of course they'd become friends on day one.

Tyler hit his shoulder from the desk behind Stefan and leaned up to talk to him. "Who's the new girl? She's smoking hot."

"Caroline Forbes," Stefan said as softly as he could manage. Caroline looked up as if she heard her name being called. She couldn't have heard him... could she?

"Forbes?" Matt interjected. "Isn't the Sheriff a Forbes?"

"Sheriff's daughter?" Tyler said, leaning back in his chair. "Even hotter."

Stefan turned to Tyler and pointed his finger at his chest. "Nope. You're not going to make her a conquest of yours. Do you hear me?"

"Ohhhh, Steffy's putting his foot down."

Stefan rolled his eyes and turned in his chair to face front. When he did, he saw Caroline sitting in her seat. She smiled back at him, and bit her lip ever so slightly as she did. It was so subtle he almost didn't see it. Almost.

The rest of the class period was like that. Stefan and Caroline exchanging looks. Tyler making crude remarks under his breath, and Elena simultaneously trying to avoid eye contact with Stefan, while not being able to tear her eyes off of him.

When the bell rang, letting the students out for the day, Caroline stood up first and walked to Stefan's desk. "Hey you," she said. Tyler mumbled something Stefan couldn't make out. But, Caroline seemed to hear it loud and clear. "Your friend is kind of a dick," she said matter of factly.

Tyler stood, making his way to Caroline. "I'm not a dick, but I sure do have one."

"Tyler!" Matt scolded instantly.

"Want to see?" Tyler continued and Stefan stood up abruptly, putting himself in between Caroline and Tyler, facing Tyler.

"Stop. Now."

"So it's going to be like that, huh?"

Stefan moved closer to Tyler. "You're done."

Tyler beared his teeth and looked Stefan up and down, clearly trying to decide his next move. "Whatever, man."

Tyler walked away and Matt followed quickly after him. Stefan turned to Caroline, who was smiling at him. "You jumped so quickly to defend my honor," she noted.

"That's me," he teased. "Honorable gentleman, defending the women of Mystic Falls."

"I'm sure you're very honorable," Caroline said. "But, I doubt you defend just anyone."

Stefan opened his mouth to respond and was interrupted by Elena's voice. "Caroline, you coming?"

Stefan and Caroline looked to the door to see Elena and Bonnie waiting. Elena looked away as soon as Stefan's eyes met hers. "We're going to this... restaurant. Or bar or something," Caroline said, clearly out of her element.

Stefan chuckled. "The Grille?"

Caroline beamed. "Yes!"

"Sounds fun."

"You should come," Caroline offered. "You know Elena, right?"

Stefan nodded his head. "I do. I'll probably be over there in a few hours. I got to get home right now though. Check on a couple things at home."

Caroline smiled and touched his shoulder. "It was a really good surprise. Meeting you." Her voice was cheerful, full of happiness and laughter. Caroline was the polar opposite of everything Stefan was. She was light and confident. While he was broody and second guessed himself.

As he watched her walk out of the classroom he realized that for an entire day, one full day, he hadn't thought about his parents all day. He hadn't felt like the orphan. The outcast. He just felt hope. He just felt ready. Ready to start something new.

To start it with her.

"Damon," Stefan yelled as he walked into the Salvatore Boarding House. The house was dark, all the curtains were drawn. He walked to the kitchen and made a glass of water, and poured a few advil into his palm before walking up the stairs.

"Damon," he said again, softer, as he walked into his brothers room.

Damon sat up, his hair disheveled and his eyes half open. "I thought you had school," he croaked.

"I did," Stefan said, handing Damon the glass and the pills. "I went, I'm back."

"That was quick," Damon said before popping the advil into his mouth. He swallowed and handed the glass back to Stefan before falling back into bed. "Wake me up in a hour and you can take me to the Grille."

"We can just stay home tonight. I'll cook. Or Rosa will cook."

"Rosa made breakfast," Damon said. "Plus, I want a burger."

"And a bourbon?" Stefan uttered under his breath.

Damon shot up. "Excuse me, little brother?" he said, his tone angry. "Do we have a problem?"

Stefan shook his head. "No. We don't."

Damon locked his jaw and stood up. "Good!" Damon walked to the bathroom. Stefan waited until he heard the water running. It had been almost three days since Damon took a shower. It was about time he did.

Stefan walked out of the bedroom. He was grateful for Damon. He kept his act together long enough for social services to deem him an appropriate caregiver. He buried their parents without losing control. He listened to Stefan cry about them every night for almost two weeks.

He owed Damon everything. Literally, everything. Damon was the one who got them out of the backseat of that car. But, he wasn't able to save their parents. And for that, Damon would never forgive himself.

One day, when Stefan was starting to feel normal, all of a sudden Damon snapped. He drank all night, slept all day and barely knew what time it was. Let alone the day. He spent most of the summer in a haze. Stefan had hoped that once school started, Damon would go back to teaching. Get his act back together. But, instead, he took a sabbatical. Which left Stefan wondering when he'd get his brother back. Or if he would ever get him back.

Damon poured back a glass of bourbon into his mouth before grabbing his keys from his pocket. He threw them at Stefan. "You drive," he said.

As usual, Stefan thought.

A knock at the door made Damon and Stefan look at each other in confusion. They hadn't had company in so long, Stefan had actually forgotten the sound the wood made when a fist connected with it.

Damon poured another glass, clearly making no attempt to open the door. Stefan walked to the door, keys in hand.

He was surprised to see Caroline behind the door, wide eyed smile and a change of clothes. Dark jeans, heels and a leather jacket. Stefan had to admire her for a moment before speaking.

"Caroline," he said, surprise in his voice. She grinned wider. "What are you- How did you know where I lived?"

"My mom told me!"

Damon peaked around the door. "And who's this sweet thing?" Damon said, already starting to slur. Stefan needed to get him to the Grille. Needed to get some food in him.

"I'm Caroline," she introduced herself. "And you are?"

"This is my brother Damon. We were just heading to the Grille, actually."

"Oh good. I was going to offer to take you on my way. I just went home to change first. Thought I'd offer you a ride." Caroline chewed the corner of her lip.

"Oh! Yes!" Damon said while grabbing his jacket. "D.D." Then he leaned into Caroline to whisper. "That means Designated Driver!"

Caroline laughed. "Someone had a rough day?"

Damon smiled a closed eyed smile. "I've had a rough life, blondie. You drive. I'll talk."

Stefan breathed out a heavy sigh as he watched Damon stagger to Caroline's car. Caroline giggled and turned back to Stefan. "So, I guess that's a yes on my offer."

"Sorry about him-" Stefan started and Caroline giggled.

"Sorry? Do not be sorry. He's amazing."

"He's drunk."

"I know! It's hilarious!"

Caroline walked to her car, her keys spinning around her finger as she did. Stefan let out another sigh and followed them to the car.

As he watched Caroline help her brother into her car, he noticed an interesting looking ring. It looked similar to the ring that Elena's dad wore. That, but smaller. More feminine.

"I like your ring," Stefan said.

Caroline, clearly was taken off guard, she held the ring to her chest as a reflex. Stefan tilted his head at her in confusion. "Yeah, it's a family heirloom."

"It's different," Stefan said. "I like it."

Caroline gave Stefan a shy smile. A smile that said there's more to the story here. He wanted to know everything about her. The feeling of wanting to know her, needing to know her, was like nothing he'd ever experienced before. He got in the backseat of the car and let his brother take over the conversation, while he studied the back of Caroline's head.

Caroline was laughing at something Bonnie was saying. Damon was across the room at the bar with Elena's aunt that was in town for the summer before her school started next week. Tyler and Matt were playing pool with Elena and Stefan was sitting at a booth, feeling that creeping loneliness that came with being the orphan kid.

Caroline looked at Stefan from the corner of her eye and a smile crossed her lips. "So, what's the deal with this bonfire thing?" she asked him.

"The end of summer bash?" Stefan asked. "It's a tradition."

"Are you going?" Caroline asked.

"Stefan never goes to parties anymore," Tyler said, walking up from the pool table to take a swig of his soda. He gulped the dark liquid down quickly and set the glass down, the liquid sloshing with the quick motion. "Stefan is kind of a hermit these days."

"Well," Caroline said, a smile on her face. "Maybe we can change that."

Stefan tried to hide the blush that seemed to be hitting his cheek. He smirked. "Maybe I'll stop by."

"You could walk there," Bonnie said. "It's basically in your backyard."

Caroline bit her lip and looked up at Stefan. "I'm going, and I want you to come," she said, looking at Stefan. Then she looked at the group. "All of you."

"Party girl!" Tyler said and took another swig of his soda. He looked back at the pool table where Elena was impatienly waiting for him to rejoin them. "Matt and I will be there," he said as he was walking away. "You're going, aren't you, Lainey?"

Elena pushed him a little and laughed. "I hate that nickname," she squealed. "And yes, I wouldn't miss it..." she beamed, yelling from the pool table to Caroline and Bonnie. Stefan slunk down in his seat.

"Well, then?" Caroline asked softly. "Are you coming?"

Bonnie gave him a knowing look. "It's complicated."

Caroline tilted her head. "I have time."

Bonnie looked between the two. "I'm going to go get an order of fries," she pointed at Caroline. "You want?"

Caroline nodded and turned her attention to Stefan. "What aren't you telling me?" she asked him softly.

Stefan licked his lips and his eyes flicked to Elena, who was not so subtly watching. "You know that Elena's my ex, right?"

Caroline's face contorted. "Oh. You're the ex?"

Stefan nodded. "And... I haven't really been to anything since we broke up. Or since..."

"Since your parents?"

Stefan nodded. "I was at a bonfire the night they died. We broke up the night they died at that same bonfire. It's just... it's just... a lot."

Caroline looked down at her hands. She played with her ring as if it were instinctual. "Can I say something?"

"Shoot."

"You can't be sad forever."

Stefan opened his mouth to respond but Caroline's mouth opened again, cutting his thoughts off as he watched her lips form the next words. "I mean, you can be. But, you shouldn't be. You suffered a loss. You let yourself drown in the suffering and you came out the other side. Now it's time to live. Not just survive." Her piercing blue eyes met him. "Come tomorrow night. Start living. Start living... with me."

She giggled at her phrasing. "I didn't mean to ask you to live with me."

"It'd be a little crowded," he added. "With you, me and the sheriff."

Caroline and Stefan laughed in unison and she scrunched up her nose at him. "I like you," she said. She just said it. Like it was a factual truth that couldn't be hidden so she might as well say it.

Stefan smiled. "I like you, too."

to be continued...